PRE-ATHEROSCLEROTIC AORTIC LESIONS IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Patients with cystic fibrosis have fat malabsorption and provide an experimental model for evaluating the hypothesis that a low-fat intake [in childhood] may prevent atherosclerosis. The frequency and extent of aortic precursor lesions (fatty streaks, early fibromusculoelastic lesions, late fibromusculoelastic lesions) found at autopsy were studied in this disease and in other patients with debilitating disorders but no apparent fat absorption impairment. Fatty streaks were less common in the cystic fibrosis group, as were the late fibromusculoelastic lesions. There was no significant difference in the frequency, length, or thickness of the early fibromusculoelastic lesions. Apparently fat may be responsible for progression but not initiation of the fibromusculoelastic precursor lesions, and that early restriction of dietary fat may prevent, delay, or modify atherosclerosis in the adult.